TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Tourism Administration led a delegation to Laos to promote direct flights between the two countries, reports said Friday (July 5).

The Taiwanese officials and business people visited the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and the Laotian capital Vientiane from June 30 to July 5, per CNA. The Tourism Administration’s office in Ho Chi Minh City in neighboring Vietnam managed the event.

Taiwan was a relatively unknown territory for travel operators in Laos, according to officials. There were no direct flights, and Taipei has no representative office there.

The delegation visited Lao Airlines in the hope of fostering the launch of direct flights between Taiwan and Laos. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 1,000 Laotians visited Taiwan per year, with the figure recovering about 80% in 2023.

Most Lao tour operators had never traveled to Taiwan, so they asked basic questions, covering topics like visa procedures, sights, formalities for student groups, and Buddhist temples. The absence of direct flights meant higher costs and extra time needed for transfers.

During talks on Wednesday (July 3), Lao Airlines said it had studied the issue, but a shortage of aircraft meant that direct flights were still unlikely, at least before 2025.

At a promotional event for media and travel operators, the Tourism Administration invited Lao influencer Lawrence Koo to expand on his visit to Taiwan in 2018. He described the Taiwanese as friendly and ready to help, emphasizing the similarity of the weather in both countries and the convenience of traveling in Taiwan.